Automatic opener and closer for tooth paste and similar tubes



April 15, 1958 E. GARIBALDI AUTOMATIC OPENER- ANU CLOSER FOR TOOTH PASTE AND SIMILAR TUBES Filed Oct. 1e, 1955 /f f f E552 su l .j

r,. 1. |l 'I 'L l l s I l I I I I l I l l I EEA United ltates Patent O AUTOMATIC OPENER AND CLOSER FR TOOTH PASTE AND SIMILAR TUBES Ernest Garibaldi, Millbrae, Calif.

Application October 16, 1953, Serial No. 386,510

1 Claim. (Cl. 222-92) This invention relates to closure means for tubes and containers and has particular reference to an automatic opening and closing means for collapsible tubes that hold tooth paste and like commodities therein. It is usual to provide such containers with removable caps that close the orifice through which the contents of the tube is discharged. Thi-s necessitates the removal and replacement of the cap each time the material is ejected from the tube which is objectionable on account of the time required and furthermore, the caps when detached are frequently lost exposing the contents of the tube to the air.

The present invention is designed to overcome this difficulty by providing a container with an automatically closing valve.

Another advantageous feature of this invention which contributes materially to facilitating dispensing of the material in the container resides in the provision of a closure of the foregoing character wherein the valve is responsive to the application of pressure upon the contents of the container to automatically open the discharge opening therein and permit the escape of the material in the container through the opening.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a closure having a valve controlled discharge passage therein wherein provision is made for automatically closing the valve upon relieving the pressure on the contents of the container.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this speciication and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, p

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a paste tube equipped with the closure means embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the same,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the invention as shown on an enlarged scale, the view being partly in sections and partly in elevation and being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view, the view being taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a similar view as Fig. 4, being shown on a reduced scale.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4 and disclosing the coil spring and associated parts, and

Fig. 8 is a rear elevational view.

ICC

In the accompanying drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 9 designates a collapsible tube that is equipped with an integrally formed horizontal plate or wall 10 on which is slidably mounted a vertical transverse plate 11. The said plate has centrally mounted thereon a pin 12, while a stud 13 equipped with a shoulder 14 is provided on the rear wall of the tube and in axial alignment with the said pin. The said stud and shoulder have attached thereto a coil spring 15, the stud and shoulder being received within the convolutions of the spring.

An inner housing or tube 16 extends horizontally from said plate 10 and is encased in a second or outer housing 17 that is equipped with a bottom opening 18 and a side opening or outlet 19.

By virtue of this construction it will be obvious that when the collapsible tube 9 is squeezed the pressure exerted thereon Will cause the spring to be compressed and the plate 11 will move rearwardly a sufficient distance over the bottom opening 18 to uncover the same and to allow the paste to pass therethrough and thence through the outlet 19 for the dispensing of the paste for any desired purpose. When pressure has been released the normal expansion of the spring will effect a forward movement of the inner tube to seal the respective openings.

An annular ange 19 formed on the outer tube serves as a stopping means to limit the forward movement of the inner tube.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings it will be obvious that I have devised a most unique automatic opening and closing means for tooth paste tubes and tubes of like character.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a prerferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the shape, size, material and arrangement of parts may be readily resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A device of the character described for housing pastes and the like embodying in its construction a collapsible tube capable of retaining the paste and of being vertically supported, a horizontal wall lixed in the tube and positioned in the upper portion thereof, the said wall extending inwardly from one side of the tube, a second horizontal wall fixed on the opposite side of the tube and extending inwardly toward and above the rst mentioned horizontal Wall, the said tube having an outlet opening in the side wall thereof for enabling paste to be dispensed, means slidably supported on the said horizontal walls within the tube for closing the said outlet opening and a coil spring for resiliently retaining the said means over the tube outlet.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,979,166 Manzardo Oct. 30, 1934 2,069,009 Jackson et al Ian. 26, 1937 -2,170,588 Douglas Aug. 22, 1939 

